Why Timing of Bird Migration Is Changing

Nov. 12, 2013 — Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found out why birds are migrating earlier and earlier each year.

Experts have long suspected climate change is somehow driving this advancing migration pattern. But new research published today reveals that individual birds migrate like clockwork -- arriving at the same time each year.

However, climate warming is resulting in earlier nesting and hatching earlier each year, and this appears to be linked to the advancing migration.

Lead researcher Dr Jenny Gill from UEA's school of Biological Sciences said: "We have known that birds are migrating earlier and earlier each year -- particularly those that migrate over shorter distances. But the reason why has puzzled bird experts for years. It's a particularly important question because the species which are not migrating earlier are declining in numbers."

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